Christmas holidays being over, I had to get back to work again immediately. The final exams were coming and despite the effort I provided, I had the feeling I was behind schedule. I assimilate a lot of things, too much to be remembered. I often go to bed at 2am and got up at 7am. It is not healthy, I am tired every day, I added up fatigue day after day. But days are flying like an arrow and I feel like I don’t have enough time to do all what I want.

Let’s go back to the beginning of January. Classes resumed on the 5th. The following week was busy due to a group presentation on Tuesday about Ainu people and multiculturalism in Japan and the weekly kanji test was more substantial than usual. In addition, a presentation to prepare for 18th about cosplay in Japan.

My first presentation was okay even though I was anxious before entering the classroom. We were supposed to provide this presentation in 20 minutes but we made it longer a little bit… 1 hour… oups! The following day, with Ledua, Margaret and Taisei, we celebrated our achievement with a food at a restaurant called “Roche” (ロッシェ). All of us opted for the same dish, Doria (ドリア), a rice gratin prepared in the same way as lasagna. It was delicious, the waiter was very nice and the atmosphere was relaxing. I’d gladly go back there.

We thought that presentations were over but we found out the following week we had another one in Japanese Grammar and Discourse. We had to talk about the differences between the Japanese and Western plots and illustrate our words with a comparison of two media (tales, trailers edited differently, movies,…). That was a shame to have only one lesson about that. During this class, we made an interesting analysis of a Disney movie’s plot and a Ghibli movie’s one.

I think I have never spent that long in a library. Between researches and Japanese lessons, I had a ton of stuff to study and I went home more and more later. The library’s atmosphere is quite lively. It’s allowed to chat downstairs where the computers and a wide work-space are situated. It’s never quiet, sometimes it’s even very noisy. No comparison with our quiet, chilly and dark libraries. If we want to have some peace, we have to go upstairs. It has become routine to meet up my classmates there. We study, we help each other and we chat, I like it.

That week, I went to OtaLabo with Balazs and Anna. A good idea to clear my mind. It’s free of charge for girls on Thursday (except for drinks). We spent a very good time with Yuki, my lovely barista, some cool customers and overexcited girls. They sang incredibly well with an overflowing energy. It was awesome. I strongly believe that this bar is a seiyuu HQ haha. Seriously, they are awesome. I feel always ridiculous when it’s my turn. We stayed there until closing time, so 1am. I had class the following day. And didn’t finish my homework. The night was short…

The Saturday afternoon, I met with Salome and her husband for the last time. Before leaving definitively Japan, they gave me as a present their bike and some Japanese handbooks. I can get around easier in Oita now, even though driving on Japanese roads could be complicated because they drive on the left side. We strolled in Park Place, a big and stylish shopping mall. Salomé showed me her favorite shops. For dinner, we ate in their favorite restaurant where I could eat for the first time an Omurice (オムライス) which is an omelet filled with rice. It was good 🙂

I decided to take up sport again. I started over the Top Body Challenge program (by a French coach) and take running up again. I get a snack more easily here because of the uncountable number of konbini, bakeries and street food restaurants, where everything is sold to be eaten on the go. It’s not healthy because I eat more and it is not low-fat foods. Konbinis are evil. But what would my life be without them? I think I will miss them when I will be in France : their own soundtracks, onigiri, the Seven Eleven’s burgers, the typical expressions we often hears and we end to know by heart (like : 温めますか - atatame masu ka ? – To heat ?), expresso, nikuman, the bottles of hot tea…

Days are getting cold but sunny. We had some snowfalls and a frozen wind but it lasted 2 or 3 days. Those days are the coldest I’ve ever known here. Because of a poor insulation, inside is as cold as outside. Even if I put on several layers of clothes for the night, the cold wakes me up and I’m not longer able to fall asleep. To save money, I don’t always turn on my heater. Warmth is not kept long in my room. So I turn it on only a few minutes before shower and before going to bed. Air is dry and if I turn on the heater it gets worse. I think, I got the worst heavy cold of my life haha.

I worn for the first time a chirurgical mask. At first, I felt a bit stupid given that it’s not my habit. But I find this principle very good. Although, how people can stand wearing it all day ? It’s just unbearable because you feel the warm and wet air from your mouth and your snot sticks on the mask… I couldn’t stand it. Wearing a mask is automatic with Japanese. They also wear it in prevention during the periods while cold can be caught more easily.

With my Hungarian friends, we’ve got into the habit of going to OtaLab every Thursday night. Before going back to Finland, three other pals came one night with us. It was like in a karaoke room in a con, you know, fun and friendly. I wish we could spend this kind of moment more often with them. All of us are passionate about Japanese pop-culture and I feel like we didn’t take the opportunity to enjoy moment like that even though we are together in the country at the origin of our common interests. In my dorm, the common space closes at 10pm. While the other one, Kyushukyusha (“KK”) never closes. So, nobody comes down. It’s almost empty every day. It’s too bad because the room is wide with sofas, a big TV screen, a micro-waves, a heater, a guitar… and nothing is used. We could do things together… Nobody’s up to come there, we always have to go to KK.

The monday of the last class week, our teacher of History class gave us the immense privilege to attend a tea ceremony in a classroom. Just for us. All was respectfully set up to see this sacred moment through. When the ritual finished, we had a lecture about its origins and its different steps. Of course included in the exam 😀 We had the chance to try it out under the watchful eye of a Tea Master.

On Friday 27th of January, before the final exams start, the university organised a farewell party for students leaving Japan in February, followed obviously by a party in the campus dorm “KK”. We had to be wise because most of us had a school excursion to the Manga Museum of Kitakyushu. We were not, haha. Time of departure 9am. A good day even though I had a hard awakening. Terrible hangover. The museum was very interesting, we had a lecture about manga and its history. There was an exhibition, a manga store, photo studios for cosplay (amazing!), a big library with even a section of manga translated in different languages, French was there with Bride Story. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to explore around. Back in Oita, my day ended with a crazy night with unlimited alcohol for 2000yen (飲み放題”nomihoudai”) at P.E.I. pub, the foreigners bar. Wisdom and Moderation were not invited.

January ended with exams closing the first semester. More than half of the students arrived at the same time than me are leaving. I cannot believe that everything will change. I will miss our Japanese class and their presence. I’m quite upset because we started and shared this experience together. I didn’t have time to get to know them better but I met awesome people. I hope the future has delightful surprises and we will be able to see each other again.

Friday, 10th February marked the beginning of Spring holidays. I have some projects in mind which I hope being able to realise. I’d like to start a vlog and go on some trips. To prepare the start of the school year in April, I have to study Japanese. These Spring Holidays will be the chance to catch up.